Rhetorical Analysis Of The Word Retard

Detecting the Unnoticed Harm
Have you ever been mocked by someone because of a particular physical condition of yours? Think about it, being ridiculed by an inevitable feature of yours is both harmful and unfair, and I’m sure we can agree that it doesn’t feel any good. On a larger scale, this is the everyday struggle for a disabled person when they hear the commonly used word “retard”. Patricia E. Bauer reflects the struggle of a mentally disabled person in our society in her article, “A Movie, A Word, and My Family’s Battle” (2008). She emphasizes the negative effects of the use of the word retard and encourages the reader to stop using it. In this essay we will analyze Bauer’s article, by breaking down her approaches to persuasion, studying …show more content…
Fairman, the author of “The Case Against Banning the Word Retard”(2010) is in favor of maintaining the society as it is. His arguments defend our first amendment liberties, emphasizing on the freedom of speech. “Freedom of expression has come at a dear price, and it is not worth abridging, even so we can get along a little better.”(450). He provides his readers with a pile of arguments such as; other words that are even more derogatory haven’t been banned. Or that another word would arise to replace retard in case it is banned. In my opinion Fairman, has highly effective arguments, but he isn’t addressing the problem that Bauer states; families like hers go through unwanted situations that lead to rejection and isolation. He doesn’t have the authority to counter argue the emotional pain 14.3 million mentally disabled people and their families have to live with only for the use of this one word. He doesn’t address Bauer’s statement that says by using the word retard we are distancing from an ideal society that accepts others as they are. And sadly this in fact, is what has been …show more content…
Bauer says, “Experts estimate that fewer than 20 percent of those of working age are employed, even though research shows that they are reliable and effective workers when given support and matched with appropriate jobs.”(445) This clearly demonstrates that society has not yet embraced the mentally disabled as part of their own. If we aim to have a stronger and better society, we need social inclusion for all communities. It is more challenging for the communities to come together if the larger group continues to hold negative stigmas against the minor groups. In this case, society must reject the degrading rhetoric against the mentally

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